“You think you know everything—but when you write it down, you see the small things,” explains Rao Neelam, v.p. of operations at Freudenberg Medical’s Baldwin Park, Calif., medical-device manufacturing facility. The “small things” are a big deal at Freudenberg Medical’s operation approximately 20

Affordability, speed, and improved mechanical properties appeal to early adopters. Cubibot CEO/CTO Aria Noorazar with his new FDM printer, described as “super-compact, super-affordable, and easy to use.” Carbon3D announced the first commercial application for its CLIP 3D printing process—midsoles for individualized

CGTech will demonstrate the newest version of its CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software, Vericut 8.1.
The software includes an additive manufacturing module for hybrid CNC machines, which simulates both additive and traditional machining processes in any order to help identify potential problems that can occur when

There’s been quite a few new developments regarding 3D printing in space. The latest combines 3D printing and recycling: NASA is launching a machine that 3D prints plastic parts and also recycles them back into reusable raw materials to make more parts.
The machine, called the “Refabricator,” is a device that will accept

In the last few months, I’ve seen clear signs that some 3D printing shops and makers of additive manufacturing equipment intend to compete with injection molding. I am asked fairly frequently whether additive manufacturing (AM)—or 3D printing, as it’s often called—is going to compete with injection molding. Until now, I have

Eleven students have returned to the company full-time in the last two years, including five this spring. While many plastics processors bemoan the difficulty of finding qualified workers to hire, some processors are doing something about it. One of them is contract manufacturer Mack Molding, Arlington, Vt., whose apprenticeship program is yielding

Doing DOEs for the sake of doing them wastes time and money. But they can provide vital information to determine which process variable is determining a critical part characteristic. Here, part size changed simply by adjusting just the fill time. Why? Changing the fill time by adjusting the injection speed changed the kinetic energy or momentum of

Using simulation to understand cost-benefit ratio in using tool alloys with high thermal conductivity. Before specifying expensive tool alloys with higher thermal conductivity, it is important to have a clear understanding of their cost- benefit ratio. That was the situation facing packaging molder Proplas S.A. in Medellin, Colombia. It

Netstal premieres coinjection molding of three-layer coffee capsules with in-mold labeling. At the Fakuma show this month in Germany, Netstal (U.S. office in Florence, Ky.) will unveil a world premiere of a system for coinjection (sandwich) molding of three-layer coffee capsules with in-mold labeling (IML). The PP/ EVOH/PP capsules provide

With a few taps and swipes, you can find critical processing parameters to help you run materials you’ve never run before. Columns Post: 9/24/2017
Jim Callari Editorial Director/Associate Publisher, Plastics Technology You’ve just received shipment of a new grade of material. You’ve molded something like it before—sort of,

Learn why—and how—innovative molders have begun to develop “smart factories,” using advanced equipment, IT, and communication technology to enable greater connectivity and productivity. The smart factory of the future will require continuous integration of order information, machines, molds, and logistic peripherals using

A thermoformer’s commitment to make products from sheet containing post-consumer plastic is diverting millions of PET bottles from landfills. Last year alone, Shepherd Thermoforming and Packaging Inc., Brampton, Ont., processed about 4 million lb of recycled PET (RPET), roughly 75% of its overall throughput, which translates into

Equipment council described as 'at the core' of the industry. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), Washington, D.C., has recently named machinery industry veteran Steve Petrakis as its vice president of its Equipment Council. Currently, Petrakis, who career in plastics spans more than 40 years, was most recently the vice president of

The first simulation assumed a conventional single-screw extruder (i.e.; no devolatilization capability) processing the 80% core layer using only PCR PET flake. The second simulation changed the formulation to a 50% post- industrial reclaim (PIR) and 30% PCR PET flake blend. The third simulation repeated the formulation used during the first

Now in its fifth generation of family ownership, Greiner’s roots extend as deep as 1868, when it started out as a cork maker. Some 160 years later, Greiner Packaging has more than 30 facilities in 19 countries around the world. These are primarily in Europe, where Greiner Packaging is widely recognized as a leading supplier of rigid plastics

Brown Machine group to serve as master brand for Brown Machines, Lyle Industries, Nalle, and EPCO. Thermoforming Technology Group, Beaverton, Mich., announced recently that it is changing its name to Brown Machine Group. The new name will serve as the master brand for Brown Machine, Lyle Industries, Nalle Automation Systems, and EPCO. According to

Designed for use with Amut-Comi ACF line of thermoforming machines. New stacking robots available from Italy’s Amut-Comi SpA are available in two models:
The ER2X consists of a vertical axis to pick up and discharge formed parts and a horizontal axis to take the parts from the picking station to the stacking unit. The ER3X is furnished

Milliken’s NX Ultra Clear PP concentrates play key role in “Pick Your Plate” concept. Tell the truth! When you hear the word ‘snack”, do you not envision some not-so-healthy option like potato chips or other such salty, crunchy things? And, while there’s a whole lot of new technology—much of it plastics

Not surprising, given its name, the business of Associated Thermoforming Inc. (ATI) revolves around thermoforming. But another technology—computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)—has played an important role in improving the processor’s productivity, reducing lead times along with operating costs.
Based in Berthoud, Colo., ATI

From heavy-gauge to light, and from the medical industry to the transportation market, Brentwood utilizes its wide range of thermoforming capabilities and expertise to engage customers around the world. Brentwood thermoforms a wide range of heavy- and light-gauge products at its 200,000 ft2 headquarters plant in Reading, Pa. Brentwood formed this

Start-up machine builder, headed by extrusion veteran Kramer, to furnish extruders from 1-8 in dia. Among the extrusion veterans on the U.S. Extruders team are Bill Kramer (left), president and include Schilke. Previous Next Make way for a new supplier of custom extruders. US Extruders Inc.. started up last month in Westerly, R.I.,

Microspec was born out of innovation, and 28 years later continues to set the global standard in medical tubing by developing high-precision multi-lumen catheters—among other tubing products—by refusing to believe “it can’t be done.” Microspec makes a wide range of medical tubing for a worldwide customer base. Timothy

The latest generation of Series 800 extrusion tooling from Guill Tool & Engineering Co.Inc., W. Warwick, R.I., produces tubing in two to six layers and ODs from 1/8 to 6 in. Applications include automotive, medical, appliance, and industrial. The redesigned Series 800 produces “flawlessly smooth” extrusion and layer definition when

Problem alerts personnel to heater solenoid failure, feeding issues, gearbox vibration, and general equipment failures. Apex Machine, Calvert City, Ky., has developed a self-diagnostic extruder program that it says can detect equipment and process anomalies based on data streaming from the machine. Machine data is captured live and forwarded to the

Temperature zone settings are often misunderstood and improperly adjusted. This often contributes to poor film quality and lower production. High-quality blown film lines like the one shown here by Macchi are furnished with high-tech air rings and IBC devices to uniformly cool the bubble around its circumference. That said, to produce quality film,

Density affects the mass flow rate, and energy transfer is based on mass, not volume. As a result, polymer density enters into practically every calculation in a screw design.Article Post: 9/25/2017
Jim Frankland
President, Frankland Plastics Consulting, LLC Numerous polymer properties must be considered when designing a screw. Polymer density is

The Norner Trimodal Technology enables a higher comonomer content in the highest molecular weight. Norway’s Norner, an independent plastics institute with over 38 years of experience, has signed the first licensing agreement for its patented “breakthrough” polyethylene (PE) production technology. The concept of the Norner Trimodal

In addition to numerous employees with two and three decades of experience, Iowa blow molder is building out its future staff via apprenticeships and area-school outreach. “The future of the company is people,” says Mick Stielow, director of sales and marketing for custom industrial blow molder Agri-Industrial Plastics Co. (AIP) in

Ever hear of blow molding machines from Lithuania? Terekas’ FlexBlow promises economy, flexibility in a PET stretch machine from the Baltics. If you need a PET stretch-blow machine that can mold an extremely wide range of sizes and shapes of containers in small volumes, with quick changeovers, and at an economical price, take a look at

Canadian Water Bottler Gets More Than Expected From New PET Recycling Line

September 26, 2017

Bottle-to-bottle PET recycling line recycles pre-washed post-consumer PET bottle flake. Canadian water bottler Ice River Springs in Feversham, Ont., recently installed a second PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line, which is reportedly exceeding performance expectations. Like the first line installed in 2010, the new line is a recoSTAR PET iV+ system

PP in automotive bumper/grilles, side-sill panels, instrument panels, and door trim. Other target applications include wire & cable, due to easy processing, high electrical resistivity and heat resistance; and encapsulants for solar cells due to moisture and weather resistance and no lamination defects. Nexlene POPs, meanwhile, are

Unprecedented versatility in a two-stage machine, at a competitive price. Two- to six-cavity FlexBlow machines are entering the U.S. market for producing a wide range of custom bottles in batches as low as 10,000 to 20,000 units. FlexBlow Hybrid models combine rotary and linear motions and larger numbers of cavities for higher speed, though

Currier Plastics and NPI/Medical invest in clean rooms; molding and blow molding machines; testing equipment and more. Two custom molders in the Northeast are boosting their capacity to serve medical markets:
Currier Plastics, Auburn, N.Y., has done some medical molding for a few years, but is now making a serious push into this market.

Free online algorithm helps processors cut waste and develop secondary markets for ‘known-generation’ scrap.
Blow molders have a new, free online tool to help them solve a nettlesome regrind issue: knowing when to start mixing it back in. This “regrind management solution” is available from an unlikely

At Fabtech 2017, SWECO will spotlight its Vibro-Energy finishing mills, which are round-bowl vibratory finishing machines driven by a direct-drive motor that the company says uses less energy per cubic foot of capacity and are less prone to drive failures.
New Product Post: 10/24/2017 SWECO will spotlight its Vibro-Energy finishing mills,

An air supply and filtration system from Sata Spray Equipment/Dan-Am Co. that combines the Sata Vision 2000 supplied-air respirator and Sata 400 filter system is designed to allow spray operators to breathe easier, providing both breathing air and pure spraying air in a single system.
New Product Post: 10/23/2017 An air supply and filtration system

The 2K-Smart from Wagner is an electronically controlled and programmable plural-component dosing and mixing system that is equipped with flow meters or with optional stroke sensors.
New Product Post: 10/31/2017 The 2K-Smart from Wagner Industrial Solutions is an electronically controlled and programmable plural-component dosing and mixing system

At Fabtech 2017, The U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries of Germany’s Venjakob, Nutro Inc. and Venjakob North America, will demonstrate the Ven Spray Mini, an entry-level automatic spray coating system, as well as a coating solution consisting of a spray robot and a chain-on-edge conveyor system.
New Product Post: 10/30/2017 The U.S. and

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